February is considered, at least by marketers, as the month to show love to someone special in your life. Whether that is a spouse, partner, lover, parent or 4-legged, it’s a great time be grateful for their presence in your life. I can think of so many essential oils and essential oil blends that say, “I love you.” Rose, of course, but also ylang ylang, jasmine, and geranium among the single oils. Then there are blends like Gratitude™, Harmony™, Joy™, White Angelica™, and one of my all time favorites to express my love – Sensation™.
You might wonder what all these oils and blends might have in common. For that we need to look at their chemistries. You will find a higher percent of alcohols and esters, the two compounds that lend the most fragrance to an oil. Some might have aldehydes, but all will have a higher percent of monoterpene or sesquiterpene alcohols. Each offers a unique fragrance from nature that is uplifting, relaxing, or maybe even sensual and seductive. They all can express your love and appreciation for that special someone.
Let’s look at a few examples. Geranium is high in geraniol, a monoterpene alcohol and geranyl acetate, an ester. It is primarily these two compounds that give geranium a warm, floral, sweet, rosy odor. Ylang ylang on the other hand also has a high percent of alcohols like linalool and geraniol but very different esters—benzyl acetate and benzoate. Ylang ylang has a floral odor but much more heady and exotic. Now Rose oil from the damascena rose has about 70% alcohols that include citronellol, geraniol, nerol and linalool. The difference—there’s only 5% esters but 19% alkanes (these are rarely found in essential oils but high in rose oil). Jasmine is another heady exotic oil higher in esters like benzyl acetate and benzyl benzoate but with a low percent of alcohols. It is better known as the “queen of the night” because of its beautiful, seductive fragrance.
When it comes to the blends, we may have only 8 oils in Gratitude™ that includes ylang ylang and geranium compared to 17 oils in Harmony™ having among its ingredients—ylang ylang, geranium, jasmine and rose. Sensation™, my favorite, has 5 oils including ylang ylang, jasmine and geranium.
No matter what combination of essential oils the perfumer has selected for the blend, the purpose is realized in how the fragrance affects the individual emotionally and spiritually, as well as physically. If you look to the name of the blend the perfumer has given you a clue as to how this oil will lift spirits, clear minds and enable a deep connection to occur. Fragrance can open consciousness, relax the mind and body and enable a receptive space.
So this month, the month of love, choose wisely the oils you wish to send a message of love and appreciation or sensual seduction. Think of your special someone and listen to your own inner guidance to choose the right oil to express your feelings.
Want to know more? My book The Art and Science of Blending might be a big help. Just go to the Product page and find the book.